Halogenated beta-carotene precursors

ABSTRACT

A PROCESS FOR PRODUCING TRANS-B-CAROTENE FROM OXENIN OR ISOXENIN BY CONVERSION TO A PHOSPHINE OR TO A PHOSPHITE AND INTERMEDIATES FORMED IN THIS PROCESS.

United States Patent Other:

3,562,340 HALOGENATED fl-CAROTENE PRECURSORS Joseph Donald Surmatis, West Caldwell, N.J., assignor to Hoffmann-La Roche Inc., Nutley, N.J., a corporation of New Jersey No Drawing. Original application Dec. 4, 1964, Ser. No. 416,128, now Patent No. 3,408,414, dated Oct. 29, 1968. Divided and this application July 11, 1968, Ser. No.

Int. Cl. C07c 23/10 U.S. Cl. 260-648 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A process for producing trans-fi-carotene from oxenin or isooxenin by conversion to a phosphine or to a phosphite and intermediates formed in this process.

oxenin 3,562,340 Patented Feb. 9, 1971 RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a divisional application of Ser. No. 416,128, filed on Dec. 4, 1964 now Pat. No. 3,408,414.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The process of producing trans-{i-carotene from oxenin or isooxenin by the process of this invention is carried out according to the following reaction scheme.

In the following flowsheet X is chlorine or bromine, Ar is an aryl radical, e.g., phenyl, monoor dihydroXy-substituted phenyl, or monoor di-lower alkyl-substituted phenyl, e.g., tolyl, xylyl, etc., and R and R are Ar or higher alkyl, i.e., straight or branched chain alkyl having 8 or more carbon atoms.

(II) isooxenin (VI) l1-dehydro-B-earotene .(vII) ll-mono-cis-B- carotene o ci12$(oc 14 )2 (1x) retinyl die'chyl pho sphonat e +vitamin A aldehyde (VIII) trans-B-carotene /Ar P R R1 wherein Ar is an aromatic hydrocarbon radical, e.g., phenyl, monoor di-lower alkyl-substituted phenyl, such as tolyl, xylyl, etc., monoor dihydroxy phenyl, etc., and R and R can be Ar groups or can be higher aliphatic hydrocarbon groups, i.e., straight or branched chain alkyl groups having at least 8 carbon atoms.

Triphenyl-phosphine is preferred for use in the instant process. This reaction produces a compound of Formula The compound of Formula IV is then reacted with vitamin A aldehyde, preferably in an inert solvent, e.g., an aliphatic hydrocarbon solvent, benzene, etc., or an ether, e.g., tetrahydrofuran, or in pyridine, the latter being the preferred solvent for use in the practice of the invention, to form ll-dehydro-B-carotene (VI). The reaction is carried out in the presence of an alkali metal lower alkoxide, e.g., sodium methoXide. ll-dehydro-B-carotene (V1) is then hydrogenated in the presence of a palladium catalyst poisoned with lead [see, e.g., H. Lindlar, Helv. Chim. Acta, 35, 446 (1952)], preferably in an inert solvent, e.g., an aliphatic hydrocarbon solvent, to form ll-mono-cis-ficarotene (VII).

ll-mono-cis-B-carotene is isomerized to trans-[i-carotene (VIII) by heating, e.g., at a temperature in the range of from about 90 to about 95 for from about to about 20 hours.

Alternatively, compound (III) above can be reacted with triethoxy phosphite to form a phosphonate derivative of Formula V. Compound (V) is then reacted with vitamin A aldehyde under the same conditions given above for compound (IV) to form ll-dehydro-fi-carotene (VI).

Alternatively, compound (V) can be hydrogenated with a Lindlar catalyst, under the same conditions employed to hydrogenate ll-dehydro-fi-carotene (VI) to ll-mono-cis-[i-carotene (VII). Retinyl diethyl phosphonate (IX) is formed thereby. Retinyl diethyl phosphonate is then reacted with vitamin A aldehyde, under the same conditions employed above with compound (IV), to yield trans-fi-carotene (VIII).

Isooxenin (II) is a novel compound which is obtained by reacting 3-hydroxy 3 methyl-penten 1 yne-4 with methyl magnesium bromide to form the corresponding Grignard compound, and then reacting the latter with 4- (2,6,6-trimethyl-cyclohexen-l-yl)-2-methyl 2 buten-lal. The resulting reaction product is decomposed, e.g., with water containing ammonium chloride, acetic acid, or a dilute mineral acid, e.g., HCl, H 80 etc., to yield isooxenin.

The invention will be better understood by reference to the following examples which are given for illustration purposes only and are not meant to limit the invention.

EXAMPLE 1 Preparation of 9-[2,6,6-trirnethyl-l-cyclohexen-l-yl] -3,7- dimethyl-2,6-nonadien-4-yne-1,8-halide Oxenin (9 [2,6,6 trimethyl-l-cyclohexen-l-yl]-3,7-dimethyl-2,7-nonadien-4-yne-1,6-diol) (400 g.) was placed in a five-liter flask with 2000 ml. of ethyl ether and 5 ml. of pyridine. Phosphorus tribromide (128 ml.) was dissolved in petroleum ether (800 ml.) and added to the stirred reaction at -5 over three hours. The reaction mixture was poured onto crushed ice in a separator, and the ether layer containing the product was separated. This was washed with water, saturated sodium bicarbonate solution, and finally with water. After drying over anhydrous sodium sulfate, the solvent was removed under vacuum, with a temperature not exceeding 30. The product, 9 [2,6,6 trimethyl 1 cyclohexen 1 yl]-3,7-dimethyl-2,6-nonadien-4-yne 1,8 halide, which was obtained as a dark orange colored syrup, weighed 497 g. and the ultraviolet adsorption had a maximum at 287 mp. (in ethanol).

EXAMPLE 2 Preparation of triphenyl-9-[2,6,6-trimethyl-l-cyclohexen- 1 yl]-3,7dimethyl-2,6,8-nonatrien-4-yne phosphonium bromide 140 g. of 9-[2,6,6-trimethyl-l-cyclohexen-l-yl]-3,7-dimethyl-2,6-nonadien,4-yne-1,8-halide, 1000 ml. of tetrahydrofuran, and 167 g. of triphenyl-phosphine were placed in a two-liter flask and stirred under an atmosphere of nitrogen for 48 hours. The ultraviolet adsorption spectrum was determined on a sample of the reaction mixture and was found to have a maximum at 330 m This was used for the next step without further purification.

EXAMPLE 3 Preparation of ll-dehydro-fi-carotene A methanol solution of sodium methoxide (prepared by dissolving 16 g. of sodium in 500 ml. of methyl alcohol) and a second solution consisting of 77 g. of vita- 5 min A aldehyde dissolved in 500 ml. of methyl alcohol,

were charged to separate dropping funnels and added at the same time to the reaction product from Example 2. 'The addition required one hour. The stirring was then continued for an additional two hours under at atmosphere of nitrogen. The reaction mixture was placed in a separator with one liter of water and extracted with methylene chloride. On removal of the solvent under vacuum, the product consisted of crude ll-dehydro-B- carotene. The ultraviolet spectrum showed the main'adsorption maximum at 427 m with an inflection at 455 mg (in cyclohexane). After purification from methylene chloride-methanol, the product was obtained as an orange colored crystalline solid with Elfi 1800 at 427 m (in cyclohexane) EXAMPLE 4 Preparation of ll-mono-cis-fi-carotene A solution of ll-dehydro-fl-carotene prepared according to Example 3 (10 g.) in n-heptane (200 ml.) was hydrogenated in the presence of 0.5 g. of a lead poisoned palladium catalyst prepared by adding 3.5 parts of lead acetate to 41 parts of palladium chloride precipitated on calcium carbonate (5% palladium chloride) until a one molar equivalent of hydrogen was consumed. The catalyst was filtered 0E under an atmosphere of nitrogen, and washed with additional n-heptane. On removal of the solvent, the product consisted of crude ll-mono-cis-B- carotene with ultraviolet adsorption maxima at 335, 454, and 480 mu.

EXAMPLE 5 Preparation of trans-fl-carotene The ll-mono-cis-B-carotene prepared according to Example 4 was placed in a flask with 20 ml. of heptane and stirred under an inert atmosphere for 20 hours at C. This caused the cis-carotene to isomerize to the trans form which began to crystallize from the hot heptane. The re action was cooled to room temperature, filtered, and the product on the filter, which consisted of almost pure trans- B-carotene, was washed with additional heptane and dried under vacuum. The product has E12,, 2219 at 454 mp.

On recrystallization from methylene chloride, pure transp-carotene was obtained with,

E12,, 2450 at 454 m (in cyclohexane) EXAMPLE 6 Preparation of diethyl 9-[2,6,6-trimethyl-l-cyclohexenl-yl]-3,7-dimethyl-2,6,8-nonatrien-4-yne phosphonate 214 g. of 9-[2,6,6-trimethy1-l-cyclohexene-l-yl]-3,7-dimethyl-2,6-nonadien-4-yne-1,8-halide prepared according to Example 1, was placed in a flask with 166 g. of triethyl phosphite. The flask was fitted with a condenser for distillation and the contents were slowly heated to 140 over a period of two hours. Most of the reaction took place between 120-l40, while a distillate which was rich in ethyl bromide was collected. The heating was then continued for an additional hour allowing the temperature to rise to 150.

The lower boiling impurities were removed under vacuum by heating to 120 at 10 mm. There was obtained 216 g. of crude diethyl 9-[2,6,6-trimethyl-l-cyclohexene- 1-y1]-3,7 dimethyl 2,6,8-nonatrien-4-yne phosphonate with n 1.5612. A pure analytical sample was prepared by distillation through a molecular still. This had a boiling point of 110 at 10 microns with 21 1.5644. The ultraviolet adsorption spectrum had a maximum at 318 mg (in ethyl alcohol).

EXAMPLE 7 Preparation of ll-dehydro-p-carotene 8 g. of diethyl 9-[2,6,6-trimethyl-l-cyclohexen-l-yl]- 3,7-dimethyl 2,6,8 nonatrien-4-yne phosphonate prepared according to Example 6, was dissolved in 100 ml. of tetrahydrofuran. Vitamin A aldehyde g.) and solid sodium methoxide (1.5 g.) were added in the order named. The reaction was stirred under an atmosphere of nitrogen for four hours.

The reaction mixture was diluted with 200 ml. of water and extracted with methylene chloride. After removal of the methylene chloride, the product consisted of ll-dehydro-p-carotene (which was also obtained by Example 3). The product, after purification from methylene chloride and methyl alcohol, was obtained as an orange colored crystalline solid with EXAMPLE 8 Preparation of 9- [2,6,6-trimethyl-l-cyclohexen-1-yl]- 3 ,7-dimethyl-2,7-nonadien-4-yne-1,6-diol One mole of ethyl magnesium bromide in 500 ml. of ethyl ether was prepared by the usual Grignard procedure in a two-liter round-bottom flask. 3-hydroxy-3 methylpenten-l-yne-4 (48 g.) was placed in a separatory funnel with an equal volume of ethyl ether and added to the Grignard reagent over a period of two hours. After stirring for an additional 10 minutes, 103 g of C aldehyde (4 [2,6,6 trimethylcyclohexen-l-yl]-2-methyl-2- buten-l-al) was charged to the separatory funnel and added while stirring vigorously in one hour. After all of the aldehyde was added, the reaction flask was warmed externally to cause the ether to reflux while stirring for two additional hours.

The reaction was decomposed with water and most of the resulting grey precipitate was dissolved in 5% sulfuric acid. The ether layer was separated and water washed. On removal of the ether solvent, a white crystalline mass was obtained. To this there was added 200 ml. of petroleum ether. The solid mass was broken up, and the petroleum ether was heated to reflux while stirring. The solubility of the isooxenin was such that most of it remained undissolved. This was cooled overnight in a refrigerator and filtered. There was obtained 121 g. of dried isooxenin, melting point 102.

'EXAMPLE 9 Preparation of 9- [2,6,6-trimethyl-l-cyclohexen-1-yl]- 3 ,7-dimethyl-2,6-nonadien-4-yne-1,8-halide 33 g. of isooxenin which was prepared according to Example 8, was placed in a flask with 200 ml. of ethyl ether and 4 drops of pyridine. Phosphorus tribromide (11 ml.) was dissolved in 50 ml. of hexane and dropped into the stirred reaction at 5 in one hour. The reaction mixture was poured onto crushed ice in a separator. The ether layer was separated, washed with water, saturated sodium bicarbonate solution, and finally with water. The solution was dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate, and the solvent was removed under vacuum. The product was obtained as an orange colored syrup, with the violet adsorption maximum at 287 my (in ethanol). This product, 9 [2,6,6 trimethyl 1 cyclohexen-1-yl]-3,7-dimethyl- 2,6-nonadien-4-yne-1,8-halide, was identical with the compound prepared according to Example 1.

EXAMPLE 10 Preparation of retinyl diethyl phosphonate A solution of diethyl 9-[2,6,6-trimethyl-l-cyclohexenl-yl]-3,7-dimethyl-2,6,8-nonatrien-4-yne phosphonate (12 g.) in toluene (240 ml.) was hydrogenated in the presence of poisoned palladium catalyst [H. Lindlar, Helv. Chim. Acta, 35, 446 (1952)] until a one molar equivalent of hydrogen was consumed. The catalyst was filtered 0E and washed with toluene. Upon removal of the solvent under vacuum, the product, which was retinyl diethyl phosphonate, was obtained as an orange colored syrup with n 1.555. This was employed in the next step without further purification.

EXAMPLE 11 Preparation of trans-fl-carotene Retinyl diethyl phosphonate (10 g.), vitamin A aldehyde (7 g.) and sodium methoxide 1.5 g.) were added to ml. of tetrahydrofuran in the order named and the reaction was stirred under an atmosphere of nitrogen for four hours.

The resulting dark red solution was poured into water and extracted with methylene chloride. On removal of the solvent, the residue consisted of a mixture of trans and ll-mono-cis-[i-carotene.

The crude carotene mixture was placed in a flask with 20 ml. of heptane and refluxed for 20 hours under an atmosphere of nitrogen. This was cooled, diluted with additional heptane and filtered to give almost pure trans- 3- carotene in high yield. On recrystallization from methylene chloride, pure trans-,B-carotene was obtained, melting point 182,

YE... 50 (in cyclohexane) I claim: 1. A compound of the formula l l CH2X @AM/ wherein X is selected from the group consisting of chlorine and bromine.

8 2. A compound in accordance with claim 1 having the References Cited formula FOREIGN PATENTS l I CI'IZBI' 470,032 12/1950 Canada.

5 DANIEL D. HORWITZ, Primary Examiner 

